Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen contestant Katherine Campbell and her Little Miss Spat contestant Riley Prete joined together to help pay for the heartworm treatment for dogs in the Middlesex Animal Shelter.
They were told by shelter staff that over 65% of dogs that enter the shelter have heartworms. This treatment costs about $400 for each dog. Both Campbell and Prete have a great love for dogs so they started an awareness to help everyone understand the importance of heartworm prevention.
Campbell and Prete organized three events. They had a dog wash where they washed dogs for donations. Next, they had a 5K run/2K dog walk, which they both enjoyed when they led the dog walk and walked Campbell’s dogs. As their last event they had a car wash. They had a great time washing cars and they had a dunk tank so people could dunk them for donations. At all their events there were handmade dog scarves that Campbell spent many nights making. Campbell also had t-shirts made for the 5K/2K. Dog scarves and t-shirts are still available for sale at Feed Em All Feeds. Campbell will make another donation to the shelter once they are all sold. At all events Campbell and Prete passed out brochures and had posters that explained the importance of heartworm prevention.
Campbell and Prete donated $3,170 to the Middlesex Pet Friends For Life who will use the funds for heartworm treatments.
School career
Campbell is a senior at Middlesex High School. She is part of the track and field team and the cross-country team. In 2018 Campbell was state champion in the 300-meter hurdles and 4×100 meter relay. Campbell was invited to an invitational track meet in Australia this July and brought home a bronze metal. Campbell is also the president of the Tri-County 4-H Club. She attended the Virginia 4-H Leadership Congress in June at Virginia Tech. Campbell is also the MHS senior class treasurer. She plans to go to college and pursue a career in education.
Campbell is the daughter of Joey and Sarah Campbell. She is the granddaughter of Woody and Elizabeth Campbell, and Robert and Anita Jackson. Campbell has one brother, Nathan.
Prete is the daughter of Joseph and Samantha Prete, and the granddaughter of Ernie and Fran Milby, Mark and Suzy Robeson, and Joseph and the late Mona Prete. Prete is also the big sister of Aubrey. You can often find Prete playing outdoors, jumping on the trampoline, finding cool rocks and feathers, and making crafts.
